Discover our list of authors like Susan Mallery, whose heartwarming contemporary romance and womenâs fiction novels evoke the same emotional depth.
Contemporary romance and womenâs fiction hold a special place in readersâ hearts, offering escape into emotionally rich stories that explore the depths of human connection. While these genres particularly resonate with women readers, their universal themes of love, forgiveness, and personal growth appeal to everyone seeking meaningful storytelling.
Publishers like Harlequin have long recognized this broad appeal, understanding that stories exploring complex relationships between friends, family, and romantic partners while highlighting the transformative power of love speak to fundamental human experiences we all share.
Susan Mallery has established herself as a leading voice in contemporary romance and womenâs fiction, earning numerous accolades including the National Readersâ Choice Award and the RT Book Reviews Career Achievement Award. Her most successful works include the Foolâs Gold series, the Happily Inc series, and the standalone novel The Stepsisters.
These stories showcase Malleryâs exceptional skill at crafting deeply emotional narratives that resonate with readers long after the final page. Her ability to balance romance with authentic relationship dynamics, personal growth, and community connections has made her a benchmark for quality contemporary fiction.
Must-Read Authors Like Susan Mallery
For more romantic fiction recommendations, check out best romance authors, authors like Sylvia Day, best dark romance books.
1. Robyn Carr, 1951 -
Robyn Carr has become synonymous with contemporary romance set in small-town America. As a New York Times bestselling author with millions of copies sold worldwide, her background as a nurse infuses her stories with authentic emotional depth and understanding of human resilience.
Carrâs Virgin River series achieved remarkable success, spawning a hit Netflix television adaptation that introduced her work to even broader audiences. The series demonstrates her talent for creating interconnected community stories where characters support each other through lifeâs challenges.
Virgin River follows Melinda Monroe, a nurse practitioner and midwife seeking a fresh start in a remote town after losing her husband. As she adjusts to small-town life, Melinda finds herself drawn to Jack Sheridan, the local bar owner. Carr excels at exploring how people heal from trauma while building new connections and finding unexpected love.
What makes Carr similar to Mallery is her focus on community as a healing force, her authentic portrayal of professional women facing life transitions, and her ability to balance romance with deeper themes of recovery and second chances.
âConcentrate on the good you can do and donât gnaw on the hopeless cases. Itâll just make you sad.â
Robyn Carr, Virgin River
2. Debbie Macomber, 1948 -
Debbie Macomber represents contemporary romance royalty, with over 200 million copies sold worldwide and multiple New York Times bestseller list appearances. Her Cedar Cove and Rose Harbor series have been adapted into successful television shows, demonstrating the broad appeal of her storytelling.
Macomberâs strength lies in creating ensemble casts where multiple storylines weave together, showing how individual journeys toward love and happiness intersect within tight-knit communities. Her characters often face realistic challengesâdivorce, career changes, family conflictsâthat readers can relate to personally.
The Shop on Blossom Street exemplifies Macomberâs approach, bringing together four women through their shared love of knitting. As these unlikely friends bond over weekly sessions, they find solace and support in each other while navigating lifeâs complexities. This focus on female friendship alongside romance mirrors Malleryâs own emphasis on supportive relationships.
Like Mallery, Macomber understands that the best contemporary romance isnât just about finding loveâitâs about building meaningful connections that sustain us through all of lifeâs seasons.
âYou donât have to be an expert in order to teach.â
Debbie Macomber, The Shop on Blossom Street
3. Jill Shalvis, 1966 -
Jill Shalvis has mastered the art of contemporary romance that combines emotional depth with infectious humor. As both a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, sheâs earned recognition for creating strong, relatable heroines and charming small-town settings that feel authentic and welcoming.
Shalvisâs writing style blends wit with genuine emotion, creating stories that make readers both laugh and cry. Her characters face real problemsâcareer setbacks, family drama, past mistakesâbut approach them with resilience and often self-deprecating humor that makes them incredibly likable.
Sweet Little Lies, the first in her Heartbreaker Bay series, follows Pru Harris as she moves to San Francisco to atone for past mistakes and falls for pub owner Finn OâRiley. The story explores themes of redemption, forgiveness, and learning to trust againâall hallmarks of quality contemporary romance.
Shalvis shares Malleryâs talent for creating characters who feel like friends youâd want to have coffee with, while addressing serious emotional themes without becoming heavy-handed or melodramatic.
âYou canât fix everything. Sometimes, you just have to let things be broken.â
Jill Shalvis, Sweet Little Lies
4. Nora Roberts, 1950 -
Nora Roberts stands as the undisputed queen of romance fiction, with over 200 books published and more than 500 million copies sold worldwide. Her work spans multiple romance subgenres, including contemporary, historical, and romantic suspense, often under the pseudonym J.D. Robb for her futuristic series.
Robertsâs prolific output never compromises quality. Her contemporary romances feature complex characters facing real-world challenges while finding love that transforms their lives. She excels at creating strong heroines who maintain their independence while allowing love to make them stronger, not weaker.
The Witness demonstrates Robertsâs skill at blending romance with suspense. Following Elizabeth Fitch, a computer hacker hiding after witnessing a Mafia murder, the story explores themes of identity, trust, and the courage required to open your heart after trauma. Robertsâs ability to balance high-stakes drama with intimate romantic development parallels Malleryâs own storytelling approach.
Like Mallery, Roberts understands that the best contemporary romance uses love as a catalyst for personal growth and healing, creating stories that satisfy both emotionally and intellectually.
âIn my experience, the people you care about let you down, but only if you let them.â
Nora Roberts, The Witness
5. RaeAnne Thayne, 1962 -
RaeAnne Thayne has built her reputation on heartwarming contemporary romance set in picturesque small towns that readers want to visit. As a USA Today bestselling author, she specializes in stories featuring tight-knit communities where love, friendship, and second chances flourish.
Thayneâs Haven Point and Cold Creek series showcase her talent for creating interconnected stories where characters support each other through lifeâs challenges. Her settings feel authentic and welcoming, populated by characters who face realistic problems while maintaining hope and resilience.
Snow Angel Cove, the first Haven Point novel, follows single mother Eliza Hayward as she seeks a fresh start in an idyllic town. When a snowstorm strands her, she finds unexpected help and romance with tech millionaire Aidan Caine. Thayne excels at showing how love can bloom in the most unexpected circumstances.
Thayne shares Malleryâs gift for creating communities that feel like home, where characters find not just romantic love but the kind of supportive relationships that sustain us through lifeâs inevitable ups and downs.
âIt will be. Youâre absolutely right. Not immediately, but things will eventually be okay.â
RaeAnne Thayne, Snow Angel Cove
6. Susan Wiggs, 1958 -
Susan Wiggs brings literary sophistication to contemporary romance, with a writing career spanning over three decades and numerous awards recognizing her emotional storytelling. Her Lakeshore Chronicles series and standalone novels consistently deliver captivating stories that resonate deeply with readers.
Wiggs excels at weaving contemporary romance with historical elements, creating narratives that span generations while exploring timeless themes of love, family, and the power of second chances. Her characters often uncover family secrets that reshape their understanding of themselves and their capacity for love.
Map of the Heart exemplifies Wiggsâs approach, following widow Camille Palmer and her teenage daughter Julie as they journey to France to uncover long-buried family secrets. The novel seamlessly blends contemporary romance with historical mystery, showcasing Wiggsâs skill at crafting intricate, emotionally resonant narratives.
Like Mallery, Wiggs understands that the best contemporary romance explores not just romantic love but the complex relationships between family members across generations, showing how understanding our past can free us to embrace our future.
âWhen you canât see the future, all you can do is take a step, and then another, and then another.â
Susan Wiggs, Map of the Heart
7. Kristan Higgins, 1965 -
Kristan Higgins brings a unique blend of humor, heart, and authentic emotion to contemporary romance. Before becoming a full-time writer, her experience in advertising and public relations shaped her engaging writing style and understanding of human psychology.
As a New York Times bestselling author and RITA Award winner, Higgins has earned recognition for creating memorable characters who face real challenges with wit and resilience. Her stories often feature protagonists dealing with major life upheavalsâjob loss, relationship endings, family crisesâwhile maintaining their sense of humor.
The Best Man, the first book in her Blue Heron series, follows Faith Holland as she returns to her small hometown after being left at the altar. Her unexpected romance with police chief Levi Cooperâthe man who broke up her weddingâdemonstrates Higginsâs talent for finding humor in difficult situations while exploring themes of forgiveness and second chances.
Higgins shares Malleryâs ability to balance serious emotional themes with moments of levity, creating stories that acknowledge lifeâs difficulties while celebrating the resilience of the human spirit.
âHappiness wasnât a mystical, mysterious gift from the universeâŚHappiness was a choice.â
Kristan Higgins, The Best Man
8. Sherryl Woods, 1944 -
Sherryl Woods brings journalistic insight to contemporary romance, drawing from her successful career in journalism to create authentic characters and compelling storylines. With over 100 novels to her credit, sheâs earned recognition and admiration from readers worldwide.
Woodsâs experience as a journalist provides valuable insight into human relationships and community dynamics, which shows in her ability to create believable characters facing realistic challenges. Her Sweet Magnolias series has been adapted for television, demonstrating the broad appeal of her storytelling.
Stealing Home, the first Sweet Magnolias novel, follows Maddie Townsend as she rebuilds her life after her marriage falls apart. Set in fictional Serenity, South Carolina, the story shows how friends can become chosen family while new love heals old wounds. Woods excels at showing how community support enables personal transformation.
Like Mallery, Woods understands that contemporary romance works best when itâs grounded in authentic relationships and realistic challenges, showing characters who grow stronger through both friendship and romantic love.
âSmart people donât wallow in self-pity. They find a new dream.â
Sherryl Woods, Stealing Home
9. Linda Lael Miller, 1949 -
Linda Lael Miller brings historical authenticity to contemporary romance while also writing compelling historical fiction. Her deep appreciation for the American West informs both her historical and contemporary works, creating settings that feel authentic and meaningful.
Millerâs background as a teacher contributes to her ability to create vivid, engaging stories that educate as well as entertain. Her charactersâboth historical and contemporaryâoften feature strong, independent women who face challenges with courage and determination.
The Man from Stone Creek, set in 1903 Arizona Territory, follows schoolteacher Maddie Chancelor and undercover lawman Sam OâBallivan as they navigate frontier life and unexpected love. Millerâs attention to historical detail and authentic character development creates immersive storytelling that transports readers to another time and place.
Miller shares Malleryâs talent for creating strong female protagonists who maintain their independence while allowing love to enhance rather than diminish their strength and capability.
âSometimes, love doesnât come softly on little cat feet, sneaking up on you. Sometimes, it comes barreling in on the heels of a raging storm.â
Linda Lael Miller, The Man from Stone Creek
10. Lori Foster, 1958 -
Lori Foster began her career in human resources, experience that shows in her writing through complex character development and realistic relationship dynamics. Her understanding of workplace relationships and human psychology adds authenticity to her contemporary romance novels.
Foster has earned numerous accolades, including the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, and her novels consistently appear on bestseller lists. Sheâs particularly skilled at creating characters who face significant challenges while finding strength in both romantic and platonic relationships.
When You Dare, the first novel in her Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor series, follows professional mercenary Dare Macintosh as he rescues human trafficking victim Molly Alexander. Their relationship develops as they work together to unravel dangerous truths, demonstrating Fosterâs ability to blend romance with suspenseful elements.
Foster shares Malleryâs talent for creating characters who overcome trauma through the healing power of love and supportive relationships, showing how personal strength and romantic connection can coexist and enhance each other.
âFor certain, she wasnât the typical woman kidnapped for the growing sex trade.â
Lori Foster, When You Dare
11. Susan Elizabeth Phillips, 1948 -
Susan Elizabeth Phillips brings theatrical flair to contemporary romance, drawing from her background in theater to create emotionally rich stories with compelling dramatic tension. Her novels consistently feature humor, engaging characters, and heartfelt moments that resonate with readers.
As a RITA Award winner and highly regarded author, Phillips has mastered the art of balancing humor with serious emotional themes. Her characters often face professional challenges alongside personal ones, creating multi-layered stories that explore both career and romantic fulfillment.
It Had to Be You, the first book in her Chicago Stars series, follows Phoebe Somerville as she unexpectedly inherits a football team and clashes with head coach Dan Calebow. Their relationship evolves from professional antagonism to passionate romance as they navigate the world of professional sports.
Phillips shares Malleryâs gift for combining humor with emotional depth, creating stories that acknowledge lifeâs challenges while celebrating the transformative power of love and laughter.
âThe heart doesnât always listen to reason, even when the reason is very reasonable indeed.â
Susan Elizabeth Phillips, It Had to Be You
12. Brenda Novak, 1964 -
Brenda Novak writes contemporary romance and suspense novels that explore the healing power of love while addressing serious themes with sensitivity and authenticity. Her diverse professional backgroundâincluding work as a loan officer and daycare providerâcontributes to her ability to create realistic characters.
Novak has received multiple National Readersâ Choice Awards, recognition that reflects her skill at crafting emotionally compelling stories that resonate with readers. She excels at showing how love can bloom even in difficult circumstances, often featuring characters who must overcome significant obstacles to find happiness.
When Lightning Strikes, the first entry in her Whiskey Creek series, follows PR specialist Gail DeMarco as she works with notorious actor Simon OâNeal to restore his tarnished image. Their professional relationship evolves into an emotionally charged romance as they work together toward redemption.
Novak shares Malleryâs understanding that the best contemporary romance shows characters growing stronger through both challenge and love, creating stories that inspire hope while acknowledging lifeâs complexities.
âSometimes it takes a storm to clear the air.â
Brenda Novak, When Lightning Strikes
The Evolution of Contemporary Romance in 2025
Contemporary romance continues evolving as authors like these push the genre forward while maintaining the core elements that make it so beloved. Modern contemporary romance focuses increasingly on diverse perspectives, authentic representation, and complex social issues while preserving the emotional satisfaction that readers expect.
Key Trends Shaping the Genre:
Diverse Voices: Authors from varied backgrounds bring fresh perspectives to traditional romance tropes, creating more inclusive narratives that reflect our increasingly diverse world.
Mental Health Awareness: Contemporary romance increasingly addresses anxiety, depression, trauma, and therapy with sensitivity and accuracy, showing characters who prioritize mental health alongside romantic relationships.
Career-Focused Heroines: Modern romance features women who are established in their careers and donât sacrifice professional success for love, instead finding partners who support their ambitions.
Found Family Themes: Stories emphasize chosen family and community connections, showing how romantic love exists within broader networks of supportive relationships.
Social Media Influence: Platforms like BookTok have democratized book discovery, allowing readers to find new authors and series through authentic recommendations rather than traditional marketing.
Realistic Relationship Dynamics: Authors increasingly focus on healthy communication, consent, and emotional intelligence in romantic relationships, moving beyond outdated power dynamics.
These authors understand that contemporary romance serves as both entertainment and emotional support for readers navigating their own relationship challenges. They create stories that validate the importance of love, friendship, and community while showing that happy endings are possible even after significant struggles.
Whether youâre drawn to small-town settings, big-city adventures, or workplace romance, these authors deliver the heartwarming storytelling and emotional authenticity that make Susan Mallery such a beloved writer. Each brings their own unique voice while maintaining the genreâs core promise: that love, in all its forms, has the power to heal, transform, and inspire us toward our best selves.
